March 4, 2025
Entrepreneurship at Cornell
Inspire, connect, educate, support, and engage with an entrepreneurial mindset
?= New Addition
???? Startup Cornell: Heather Jiang MBA ’16, founder of Allegorie
The newest episode of a podcast hosted by Entrepreneurship at Cornell, Startup Cornell, features Heather Jiang MBA ‘16, founder of Allegorie, a small-batch accessory company that turns discarded fruits into beautiful wallets, bags and backpacks.
??Upcoming Events
Every academic year, the Pillsbury Institute invites successful entrepreneurs to the Ithaca campus through the Entrepreneurs in Residence (EIR) program. The program enables students to learn through ongoing personal interaction with successful entrepreneurs. The Entrepreneurs in Residence meet one-on-one with students to talk about business ideas and plans, career experience and guidance, and more.
You can schedule one-on-one meetings using your StartupTree account. Don’t have an account? It only takes a minute to create one!
Read more about our EIRs and their key areas of expertise by visiting our website.
?March 4
Ellen Yui, P ’14, ’16, Founding Principal, YUI+Company
March 11
Dan Leyva ’14, Founder & CEO, Taco Azul
??? Alyssa Pugh on "IP Issues for Food and Ag Startups"
Wednesday, March 5 at 5 pm \ Hybrid
This event will focus on helping entrepreneurs understand the various types of IP that may be of particular relevance to food and agriculture-focused startups. The session will also discuss?proactive approaches to developing an IP protection strategy covering multiple assets that can work together to protect the company's?products, services, and innovations?and effectively support building a sustainable business.
?Our speaker, Alyssa Pugh joins us from Morgan Lewis where she focuses on intellectual property matters involving the life sciences, with an emphasis on patent prosecution strategies in the biopharma, biochemical, food science, industrial chemical, and medical device industries. Her practice encompasses a wide variety of technical subject matters, including pharmaceutical formulations, biologics, gene therapy, medical diagnostics, therapeutic regimens, nutritional supplements, food chemistry, industrial chemistry, transgenic organisms, and recombinant DNA technology.
More information, including Zoom registration at https://cglink.me/2ee/r2282051 .
??? Startup Hours
Thursday, March 6 2025 | 3rd Floor of eHub Collegetown
Startup?Hours?is hosted by Life Changing Labs, and is backed by and made?up?of club members from campus orgs like Entrepreneurship at Cornell, Ventures Accelerated, Epsilon Nu Tau, and Cornell Venture Capital, along with VCs like Contrary Capital, Dorm Room Fund, .406 Ventures,?Discipulus Ventures,?and General Catalyst.
As usual, we will have free food for the event - please fill out this?form?by Wednesday at 5pm so we have a proper headcount.
?? Sam Seltzer 48 Mentor’s Forum
March 7, 2025, from 8:30 am – 3:30 pm \ 570 Lexington Ave, New York City
On Friday, March 7, the Sam Seltzer 48 Mentor’s Forum will return to New York City at the 570 Lexington location. This is one of the most impactful days on the Smith Family Business Initiative’s calendar each year. This one-day event connects advisors, and family business leaders for one-on-one mentoring sessions and group networking opportunities. Registration is limited to the first 25 applicants. Attendance is free of charge, however, students are required to provide their own transportation and lodging, if necessary. Only current Cornell students, and recent alumni (graduated within the last 5 years) can apply.
Exciting benefits for participants:
Register Here: https://cvent.me/xbo9Nr
??? 2025 EcoAthletes Collegiate Cup
March 10 – 22
The EcoAthletes Collegiate Cup is a competition among US universities where EcoAthlete Champions invite their teammates, friends, alums, and family to sign up for their school on the Climategames app. Those folks track their workouts, entering the time they spent exercising (running, walking, cycling, swimming, gym workouts, rowing) on the app. Those workouts are then converted into an environmental currency which will be used to fund a coral restoration project, thus reducing the release of carbon into the atmosphere. The school that exercises the most in total over the six weeks of the competition wins the Cup!
??? Coffee Chat with Dan Leyva ’14: Navigating Your Career & Entrepreneurship?
March 11 | 9am-10am | 189 Statler Hall Register Here by March 5th
Join us for a coffee chat with industry alum Dan Leyva! A 2021 Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree in Food & Drink, Dan is a seasoned entrepreneur and founder of Taco Azul in Boston. With a decade of experience scaling hospitality brands like Wings Over, 7th Street Burger, Tacombi, and more, he brings valuable insights into growth, innovation, and leadership in the food industry. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect, learn, and get inspired!
?Light refreshments will be provided.
?? Fireside Chat with Tim Chi '98
March 13, 2025 \ 4pm – 6pm at eHub Collegetown (3rd floor)
Tim Chi ’98, founder and CEO, holds an Operations Research/Industrial Engineering B.A. from Cornell and co-founded online learning platform CourseInfo, which would later become Blackboard, Inc., as an undergraduate. Chi continues to inspire connections through the Entrepreneurship at Cornell Advisory Council, encouraging networking and mentorship opportunities for young entrepreneurs.
This event is open to the public.
Thursday, March 13 | 11:45 a.m. – 1 p.m. ET | Online?
?Raising money for your startup? The Cornell community is invited to learn about funding opportunities, from grants to competitions to venture capital, in this free workshop.?
Moderated by Olga Petrova, Director of Innovation Initiatives for the University at Buffalo, the panel discussion will feature:?
Register now: https://bit.ly/IEWorkshop20??
March 14, 2025
The BenDaniel Venture Challenge (BVC) is Big Red Venture’s Annual Pitch Competition. BRV will select five finalists to pitch their business ideas to a panel of investors during Entrepreneurship at Cornell Celebration on April 11. Winners will earn a cash prize totaling $25,000 with an additional $25,000 match if the company’s technology is licensed through Cornell.
Companies based in New York state or with a Cornell affiliation are eligible to apply. Applications are open through March 14, 2025. Apply now.
??? The Emerging Markets Institute Mark Mobius Pitch Competition ‘25
Applications Due March 25, 2025
Competition: November 6, 2025
Applications for the Cornell EMI Mark Mobius Pitch Competition ‘25 are open.?This competition is for any undergraduates, graduates, or recent alumni (within 3 years of graduation) who are launching or operating early-stage ventures in emerging economies.?Finalists will have networking opportunities in New York City, mentorship by fellows and global investors, media exposure, and the opportunity to compete for a cash prize.
While applications are due March 25, 2025, teams are encouraged to submit early as fully complete applications can request office hours to gain feedback on an area of focus each week.?Finalists will compete for a cash prize of $10,000?at the EMI Conference on November 6th, 2025, at the Cornell Tech Campus in New York City.
Apply here
?? Celebration
April 10 – 11, 2025
Celebration Ezra, named in honor of Cornell’s entrepreneurial founder, is a two day entrepreneurship conference held every spring to bring together students, alumni, faculty, staff, and community participants. Highlights this year will include fireside chats with featured speakers, eLab Demo Day, Student Business of the Year recognition, the BenDaniel Venture Challenge, and the recognition of the 2025 Entrepreneur of the Year.
As usual, eLab will be hosting its Demo Day during the conference and we will also be honoring our 2025 Cornell Entrepreneur of the Year, John Bicket ’02, the co-founder and CTO of Samsara.
Registration link: https://eship.cornell.edu/all-events/celebration-ezra-2025/
Friday, April 11, 2025 \ Ithaca Campus
Students – are you currently operating a startup that you founded?? If yes, please see below!
Entrepreneurship at Cornell will honor one Cornell student business as the Student Business of the Year (SBOY) during Celebration Ezra on Friday, April 11, 2025, on campus.? Student founders may be undergrad or graduate students.
Emphasis is on the business and the team behind it, not just on the entrepreneur.? The award will recognize commitment to developing and operating a successful business while pursuing an education.? The cash prize is $5,000.? Note that this is not a business idea award – it is for an actual operating business.
For further information and application please visit Student Business of the Year - Entrepreneurship at Cornell.
Virtual and hybrid courses led by the Interior Northeast I-Corps Hub
University-based STEM researchers and early-stage founders: You’re invited to evaluate the market potential of your deep technology innovation, gain a deeper understanding of your industry, and learn valuable professional skills in a free, month-long I-Corps Regional Course.
The following courses begin online and culminate with funded customer discovery travel to an industry-specific conference or event:
The following virtual courses are offered to innovators in all STEM fields:
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Apply now!
??Upcoming Deadlines
Students and Business Owners – it’s time to start thinking about your summer plans!
For Students: Entrepreneurship at Cornell’s Summer Internship Program provides entrepreneurial students with opportunities to gain essential experience in small to mid-sized businesses located throughout the US. Students from any of Cornell’s schools and colleges are eligible to apply for these paid opportunities.
For Businesses: To help offset the cost of an intern, potential funding may be available to you:
The Contribution Project provides a $400 grant to help you make the world around you a better place in a way that you're passionate about.
For the Spring 2025 cycle, we have 200 spots available for undergraduate students from Cornell. Applications for The Contribution Project are open from February 1–21, 2025.
Apple Here by Feb. 21
??Ignite Fellow for New Ventures
Application Deadline March 1 Learn more and apply
Looking to make a real-world impact with a technology you’ve developed at Cornell? The Ignite Fellow for New Ventures program funds and trains Ph.D. and master’s holders with entrepreneurial outlooks to start technology ventures.
During the 12-month fellowship, fellows work in their faculty inventor’s lab for technology development and report to one of the incubator directors at the Center for Life Science Ventures, Praxis Center for Venture Development, or Runway Startup Postdocs for business development support.
Register forthe January 10, 12-1pm virtual information session to learn more
Ignite Fellow for New Ventures is administered by the Center for Technology Licensing, a division of Research & Innovation at Cornell University.
Friday, March 7, 2025
Got a big idea? ?? The @New York Business Plan Competition (NYBPC) is your chance to pitch, network, and compete for prizes!
? Gain hands-on experience pitching your ideas.
? Network with experienced entrepreneurs and industry leaders.
? Compete for cash prizes and recognition.
? Take the first step in making your startup a reality.
Open to all college students in the Southern Tier. Whether your idea is tech, creative, or community-driven, we want to hear it! ???
Learn more and apply today:thekoffman.com/nybpc
The Janet McKinley ’74 Family Grant is open to all Cornell sophomores for the purpose of assisting students in pursuing interesting, provocative, and entrepreneurial summer projects, with the intent of having a direct and lasting impact on many generations of Cornell students.
For information about the 2025 Janet McKinley ’74 Family Grant, please contact Jacinta Stark at [email protected]
Apply here: https://bit.ly/McKinleyGrant
?? Weill Cornell Clinical & Translational Science Center Career Development & Training Opportunities
2025 Request for Applications (RFA)
Ready to bring your product idea to life? – apply now.
Apply by February 14, 2025, for the early action deadline. The final application deadline is March 28, 2025.
Over 10 weeks, Rev’s Prototyping Hardware Accelerator guides product teams to determine if their ideas are commercially desirable, technologically feasible, and economically viable. Upon completion of the program, participants are positioned to recruit team members, bring on partners, initiate work with contract manufacturers, and pitch to investors. Teams will receive a stipend of up to $2,000 to advance their prototype.
The program offers four unique tracks with tailored content and instruction:
Applications are now being accepted for all tracks of the Summer 2025 Prototyping Hardware Accelerator! The accelerator is held in person at Rev: Ithaca Startup Works in Ithaca, New York beginning in late May 2025. The program is free and open to the public.
Want to learn more? Register to attend an upcoming virtual information session:
Note: Digital platforms, applications, and other software programs are not eligible unless paired with a physical product that you intend to develop in our program.
Rev encourages you to share this information with interested hardware entrepreneurs and your extended networks. Questions about the program can be directed to [email protected]
Spend Summer 2025 Working on Your Startup!
Open to graduate student-led teams from the SC Johnson College of Business, the Johnson Summer Startup Accelerator is a 10-week summer intensive featuring hands-on entrepreneurship training, networking opportunities, and one-on-one mentorship from Entrepreneurs in Residence.
The program will begin in May and conclude with a Demo Day pitch event in August. Outside of required virtual programming on Tuesdays, a kickoff weekend in Ithaca and networking trek to New York City, participants can work on their startups and meet with mentors on their own schedule.
JSSA applications close March 23, 2025. Apply now: https://bit.ly/JSSA25
Curious if the program is for you? Attend a virtual information session to learn more:
The Professor Vrinda Kadiyali Student Entrepreneur Fund provides $10K stipends to MBA students so they can focus on their startups full time while participating in the Johnson Summer Startup Accelerator. First-year MBA students who are enrolled in the two-year residential program and have applied to JSSA are eligible for this opportunity, and they will be evaluated for the award by a committee under the administration of the Dean.
Apply for the Vrinda Kadiyali Student Entrepreneur Fund: https://www.tfaforms.com/5154290
Are you a graduate business student looking to develop entrepreneurial judgment while experiencing real-world startup creation in the life sciences field?- Apply for the Life Sciences Technology Innovation Fellows program!
This program pairs business students with Ph.D. candidates and postdoctoral fellows to explore commercialization of life sciences technologies. Through an exclusive six-credit workshop course, NBA 5175, cross-disciplinary teams will test their hypotheses and thereby de-risk their potential business models. Upon successful completion of the program, participants will receive a certificate from the SC Johnson Graduate School of Management and have the entrepreneurial training, mindset, and judgment to launch a startup or become a leader in the growing life science technology economy.
MBA students must be residential (Ithaca) MBAs or EMBA MS MBAs in the final year of their degrees. The program begins in August 2025 with monthly workshops throughout the academic year.
Want to learn more about the program? Attend an upcoming information session.
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until Tuesday, March 25, 2025. Apply now: https://bit.ly/LSTIF2025 Questions? Contact [email protected].
Are you an MBA student interested in the burgeoning green technology industry? Contribute your business acumen and entrepreneurial mindset to real-world startup creation through the Green Technology Innovation Fellows program!
This program pairs MBA students with Ph.D. candidates and postdoctoral fellows to explore commercialization of the researcher’s innovation. Through an exclusive six-credit workshop course, NBA 5185, cross-disciplinary teams will test their hypotheses and thereby de-risk their potential business models.
Upon successful completion of the program, you’ll receive a certificate from the SC Johnson Graduate School of Management and have the entrepreneurial judgment you need to either launch a startup or lead in the global transition to clean energy and climate technology.
MBA students must be two-year MBAs in the final year of their degrees. The program begins in August 2025 with monthly workshops throughout the academic year.
Interested in learning more about the program? Attend an upcoming information session:
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until Tuesday, March 25, 2025. Apply now: https://bit.ly/GTIF25 Questions? Contact [email protected].
?? Experience & Opportunities
Entrepreneurship at Cornell Summer Internship Program provides entrepreneurial students with opportunities to gain real-world experience in startups and small businesses in the US and abroad. With that in mind, it’s just four short months until internships start for the summer (end of May). Hiring an intern (or interns) for the summer benefits your company, including a larger workforce, increased productivity, a new perspective, fresh creativity, money savings, and many more. We have had an overwhelming response from over 230+ students interested in internships. The students are enthusiastic about working for a start-up or small company. They are eager to contribute to your company's growth and have an impact. If you would like to hire a Cornell intern for this summer, please take a few minutes to complete the Host Company application and be placed on our host company list. You will also find FAQs on the same web page to help answer some of your questions.
Please?email?me with any questions or to set up a Zoom meeting.
To help offset the cost of an intern, potential funding may be available to you:
Location: Los Angeles, CA
About the Internship: JUMP Investors, a Los Angeles-based entrepreneurial venture capital firm, is interviewing for our annual internship program. We are looking for talented, hard-working, passionate, creative, and highly motivated interns to work on a fun, travel-related portfolio company. This is a teaching internship – it is unpaid and requires students to receive school credit. Interns must work in Los Angeles.
Unique Opportunity:
Guest Speaker Program:
Responsibilities:
Requirements:
Cayuga Forum is a virtual, facilitated, peer-to-peer coaching and networking program exclusively for #Cornell #alumni. The program started in January 2022 and now includes 100+ members. The mission is simple: Connect Cornellians working in and around entrepreneurship in meaningful ways.
Program Elements:
?Monthly Pod Meetings: Connect with 8-12 fellow alumni for mutual support.
?Cross-Pod Meetings: Engage with guest speakers at monthly program-wide meetings, such as Cornell faculty, subject matter experts, and leadership coaches.
?Curated and Random Intros: Opt into meeting other members within the program on 1:1 calls throughout the year.
?Member Spotlights: Share your work (business, company, idea) with the rest of the program to receive feedback and gain relevant connections.
The NVIDIA Academic Grant Program supports academic research by providing access to NVIDIA’s cloud, hardware, and software resources. Benefits include research grants, support letters for grant applications, and opportunities for promotion and networking through NVIDIA’s channels.
To qualify, applicants must be full-time faculty at accredited institutions awarding PhDs, and projects must use NVIDIA technology. The program is competitive, with calls for proposals in areas like generative AI, simulation and modeling, data science, graphics and vision, and edge AI. Applications must follow the proposal template and meet all requirements.
RBV invests exclusively in companies founded by, or managed by, the students, faculty, staff, and alumni of Cornell. RBV is not affiliated with, nor endorsed by or funded by, Cornell. However, part of the firm’s strategy is to engage the university’s 300,000+ alumni to a) help source and vet potential investments and b) assist portfolio companies with advice and introductions.
You can get involved with the firm in one or more of the following roles
Shared by Daniel Stoller ‘93 & Gus Warren ‘94
??Community-Engaged Learning and Leadership Certificate Program
Recognizing students' commitment to becoming changemakers and leaders with a public purpose. Participate in five in-person workshops or self-paced online courses – or a combination of each – to earn the certificate.
??Meet with a Mentor
??Blackstone LaunchPad?at Cornell
BLP provides mentorship and venture creation support to Cornell student, alumni, faculty, or staff at any stage of their entrepreneurial journey.?Whether you are interested in learning more about the entrepreneurship community at Cornell, have an idea, or need help with later-stage startup challenges, BLP mentors are there to guide you. Visit the BLP site so you see the areas of expertise for the 32 BLP mentors and view their schedule to make an appointment with them here.
??Cornell Family Business Mentorscape
The Cornell Family Business Mentorscape is a vast network that connects current Cornell students and recent alumni with scholars, advisors, and family business leaders for one-on-one mentoring and coaching sessions. Students have the exceptional opportunity to select their own agendas and interest areas for exploration during the time spent with their mentors.?Cornell Family Business mentors are carefully selected to provide for a diversity of experience and expertise.?Learn more here
??Engineering Entrepreneurs in Residence
This program partners experienced entrepreneurs with engineering faculty, postdocs, and students who are interested in learning more about commercialization and entrepreneurship. Set up a meeting to explore the entrepreneurship landscape, introduce you to like-minded alumni, and connect you to programs to get started. EiRs offer guidance and support to:
Meet with Josh Nelson, Director of the Pre-Seed and Seed Matching Fund at NY Ventures. This state venture capital arm actively looks to provide greater access to venture capital across NY State. If your company is HQed in NY State and raising a pre-seed or seed round (or plans to soon), I encourage you to check out the program.
Meet Josh at his bi-weekly virtual office hours and meet founders in small groups to answer any questions individuals may have about the program. Hosted on Mondays or Thursdays. You can also direct questions via email to [email protected]